Santa Cruz County immigration reform group holds first meeting

SANTA CRUZ -- A proclamation urging Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill will likely appear before the county Board of Supervisors and on city council agendas in the next five weeks, while local activists fan out across the county to garner support.

The newly formed Coalition for Immigration Reform/Central Coast﻿ held its first meeting Friday﻿ evening, drawing about 50 representatives from local unions and community groups, and several city officials. The call to action is part of a regional effort to mobilize support behind ongoing efforts in Congress to craft a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here.

"It's going on all over the state and we need to be part of that push," said Tomas Alejo, representing the Santa Cruz County Immigration Action Group.

Attendees were asked to set up meetings with county officials and their municipal counterparts in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola and Scotts Valley to talk about the importance of the issue and to place the resolution on upcoming agendas for discussion and possible adoption.

"The point is to mobilize and empower folks ... and make sure (elected officials) know this is not just a pro forma thing we're doing," said Glen Schaller, representing the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union.

Meanwhile, supporters will also approach faith-based organizations, social service agencies and community groups, urging them to gather support among their own members. Ted Rico, a Watsonville resident and member of the Center for Community Advocacy, also suggested approaching school district officials and asking them to distribute literature among faculty, staff and parents.

Debbie Narvaez, director of the local SEIU chapter, said the statewide deadline for officials to pass the resolution is in June. With so many people supporting a revamp of the system, and with "such a (unified) voice," she said, "they can't ignore us anymore."

Organizers also plan to participate in a call-in to local representatives in Congress March 12-14, followed by a march in Salinas March 24, then a "Day of Action" slated for April 10.

The events scheduled between now and then are leading up to a massive, nationwide call for action slated for May 1.

But the attendees agreed they face some obstacles, both on the local and statewide level, including conservatives hostile to the idea of reforming the system and racist attitudes and beliefs, which they hope to overcome with knowledgeable and "reasonable" community leaders.

In Santa Cruz County, as elsewhere across the nation, many undocumented immigrants are unwilling to join the fight and have their voices heard for fear of deportation, organizers said. Activists were urged to create alliances among city and county leaders, law enforcement and community groups to allay those fears and "say this needs to be a safe place for immigrants now," said Brittany Moore, also representing the Santa Cruz Immigration Action Group.

WHAT: Community members asked to call their local representatives to express their support of comprehensive immigration reform.WHEN: March 12-14PHONE NUMBER: 877-848-8289INFORMATION: Text 'NOW' to 787753